schwager@uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU (12/09/85)
.
Fellow Net.Cyclists,
It is with great remorse that I write this note, but sliding sideways down
snow-covered streets is not my idea of motorcycling. So I checked my "trusty"
(he said, facetiously) Clymer manual- flipped to the index, looked up
"storage," and turned to pp. 40-41 like it said. I learned all I needed to
know about the finer points of carburetor synchronization. The moral:
spend the extra 5 bucks and wait the extra 2 weeks and get the shop service
manual.
But anyhow, I need to know what I should do to winterize my machine.
I'll be storing it outside under a cover. It's water cooled, shaft driven.
I've changed the water and put in a 50/50 mix of coolant/h2o. A friend of
mine told me to squirt WD40 in the cylinders and crank it over a bit. He
said that oil will leave a coating on my valves so I shouldn't use that.
Also said I should fill the gas tank to prevent condensation and that I should
put the bike on the sidestand, because having the swing arm dangling will
strain the u-joints in the shaft. He knows how to work on bikes but much
of his information is anecdotal, so I'd like some more information if I can get
it. Specifically, what should I do about the gas tank? Fill it up, and
leave it outside? Or should I bring it in and leave it in the basement?
What about the battery? Can I bring it inside? Can I charge it inside,
or will I blow my house to smithereenies when the h2 gas hits the furnace
pilot light? Should I leave my seat outside? Temperatures will get very
cold out there- I live in central Illinois.
Thanks for any and all info. When I grow up, I think I'll move
to Texas or someplace warm.
-mike schwager, Univ. of Il Dept of Comp. Sci., Urbana, Il
-- {ihnp4,convex,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!schwager schwager%uiuc@csnet-relay.arpaallen@uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU (12/13/85)
I bring my battery in if I don't think I will be riding for a month or so (when I leave for Christmas vacation). I charge it inside too. I have also heard that the battery produces hydrogen gas, but I really can't believe that a small motorcycle battery kept in a well ventilated place is going to produce gas at such a rate that it could ever accumulate to a dangerous level. If you leave your battery outside make sure it is well charged. I think I read in one of my manuals that an uncharged battery is more likely to freeze or suffer damage in severely cold weather. As for your gas tank, I remember reading that there was some suggested fluid (not gas) to fill it with for winter storage. For the last three years I have always just filled mine with gas and let it sit outside without any ill effects. Last year I put gasohol in it which I later heard is a terrible idea, but it didn't seem to have caused any damage. I have never done any other sort of winter prep and the bike seems no worse for the wear. However, I ride my bike all winter long (at least on those rare days when the weather is particularly nice) and even if I can't ride it over a period of several weeks I will still occaisionally run the engine for a few minutes just to make sure it still works. By the way, I have a CX500 which is also water cooled and shaft driven. I keep it on the side stand for the simple reason that it tends to blow over in high winds if left on the center stand.
donch@teklabs.UUCP (Don Chitwood) (12/13/85)
Regarding storing a motorcycle over the winter (or anytime, for that matter). I'd suggest the following: a) remove the battery and give it an overnight trickle-charge once a month; b) put the bike upon the center-stand (the u-joints shouldn't be under any undue stress--the shocks limit travel, not the joints; also, try to figure a way to get the front wheel off the ground, also, to keep from putting a crease in the tire--like, block the engine up with wood; c) fill the gas-tank, maybe even add a bit of engine oil to it to coat all surfaces; d) remove old oil and replace with fresh while the engine is still hot (oil collects engine contaminants, including acids and water, which can and will eat on parts, particularly if the engine is not used for long times); e) personally, I'd pour a bit of engine oil into the cylinders, then crank the engine over to coat cylinder walls--cranking the engine will also help distribute the fresh oil from the crankcase to the major bearing surfaces; I've no problem with getting oil on the valves--they rust, too; f) give all chrome surfaces a heavy coating of a good carnauba-based finishing wax; it'll rub of in the spring, particularly with a fresh application of the same wax, while it protects the chrome from rust via pinholes in the plating; g) I wouldn't worry about the seat--sun and heat seem to be the worst enemies there. The bit about the battery comes from sore experience. I've been told that if the lead-acid storage batteries we use in cars and cycles aren't kept in a relatively high state of charge, a non-reversible chemical reaction takes place on the plates that reduces storage capacity until finally the battery will no longer take a charge. This has been my experience, too. A battery, totally disconnected, sitting on the shelf can be kept alive and well--and READY--for long periods of time if given a periodic trickle-charge. How nice to simply stick the battery in and you're ready to crank! Good luck and happy anticipation of spring! Don Chitwood Tek Labs Tektronix, Inc.
gadfly@ihuxn.UUCP (Gadfly) (12/13/85)
-- > Fellow Net.Cyclists, > It is with great remorse that I write this note, but sliding > sideways down snow-covered streets is not my idea of motorcycling... Well, to each his own. This is the time of year (for me) when each yet colder day provides another exhilarating challenge--can I take it? But, for those of you a little longer on brains (and in response to the query about storage), here's some tips for putting it away: (1) Remove the battery, make sure it's full, charge it (use a < 2 amp trickle charger to prevent damage), and put it away. (No, you won't blow your house up by charging it indoors.) Oh--make sure it's still full after you charge it. (2) Change the oil after your last ride of the season. Old oil has all kinds of nasty acids in it. (3) Fill the gas tank (as mentioned in earlier article--and leave the tank on the bike) to prevent condensation, but drain the carburetor bowl so that there won't be residual gas there to get old and weird. (4) Make sure the tires are full, even a pound or two over, so that they don't get flat spots. (5) Remove the plugs, put a drop of oil directly in each cylinder, and crank the engine over a couple of times to get the cylinders well coated. You don't want them to get rusty. (6) Clean and polish the bike before putting it away. Otherwise you're giving the road grime a lot of time to eat at the paint and chrome. Lube the chain (if you have one) well to keep it from rusting. See you in the spring. -- *** *** JE MAINTIENDRAI ***** ***** ****** ****** 13 Dec 85 [23 Frimaire An CXCIV] ken perlow ***** ***** (312)979-7753 ** ** ** ** ..ihnp4!iwsl8!ken *** ***
mtp@hplvla.UUCP (mtp) (12/14/85)
It must be nice to just now start to put the bike away. I have had mine in hibernation since the first of november with no chance of getting it out for some time because of the 20 inches of snow on the ground! But anyway to answer your question I will refer you to an excellent article that appeared in the december issue of American Motorcyclist a publication of the AMA. The article is "The Hibernating Beast". If you have any problem loacating the magazine let me know and I can sent you a photocopy. Dan Holtkamp HOME: Hewlett-Packard Co. 1007 Whalers Way Loveland, CO. Ft. Collins, CO. 80525 303-667-5000 x3632 303-223-5696
turner@imagen.UUCP (D'arc Angel) (12/16/85)
> > I bring my battery in if I don't think I will be riding for a month or > so (when I leave for Christmas vacation). I charge it inside too. I have also > heard that the battery produces hydrogen gas, but I really can't believe > that a small motorcycle battery kept in a well ventilated place is going > to produce gas at such a rate that it could ever accumulate to a dangerous *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** the problem occurs mostly if you leave the tops (caps, covers whatever) on while you charge, the gas will build up under pressure and that can cause bad news, also dont charge near a stove or other open flame, no reason to press your luck. -- god bless Lily St. Cyr -Rocky Horror Picture Show Name: James Turner Mail: Imagen Corp. 2650 San Tomas Expressway, P.O. Box 58101 Santa Clara, CA 95052-9400 AT&T: (408) 986-9400 UUCP: ...{decvax,ucbvax}!decwrl!imagen!turner